Giovanni De Carolis will defend his WBA World super middleweight title against Tyron Zeuge over a scheduled 12 rounds at Max Schmeling Halle in Berlin this Saturday, the 16th. Also at stake is De Carolis’ Global Boxing Union World super middleweight strap.
An Italian, 31-year-old De Carolis is a nine-year ring vet (24-6, 12 KOs) who won the WBA belt this January by stopping Vincent Feigenbutz via 11th-round TKO. He’d lost to Feigenbutz in his previous fight, last October, by unanimous decision. Although not a particularly hard hitter, De Carolis has a good chin, having only been stopped by Max Bursak, who won by eighth-round TKO in June 2008. De Carolis has won four of his last six.
His 24-year-old opponent, who fights out of his native Berlin, is a four-year pro (18-0, 10 KOs) who won the vacant IBF International super middleweight title in August 2014 by stopping Baker Barakat via ninth-round TKO. Thirteenth-ranked by the WBA, the undefeated Zeuge twice successfully defended his IBF strap. He most recently fought this April in a non-title match, beating Ruben Eduardo Acosta by unanimous decision.
“Tyron Zeuge is a talented young fighter,” says De Carolis. “He is fast, he has good footwork, and is technically very skilled, but he has been protected so far in his career. He has fought some good opponents, but most have been tailor-made to suit his style. I believe this will be his first real test, and we will find out how good he really is. My experience will of course play an important part, but it is not everything. Take, for example, my physique. I am now physically stronger and more robust than I was when I was a 24-year-old. If I was to fight myself from eight years ago, I would win easily, and I believe that will be the case on Saturday night.”
Should De Carolis emerge victorious on Saturday, he’d like to take on Arthur Abraham, to whom he lost by unanimous decision in October 2013. Abraham is scheduled to face Tim-Robin Lihaug on the same card. At stake, the vacant WBO International super middleweight title.
“I’m looking forward to fighting in Germany again,” De Carolis continues. “This is where I won my world title and where, three years ago, I fought Arthur Abraham. He is one of the best fighters of our generation, and although I lost that fight, I learned a lot. It gave me the belief that I could compete at the highest level, and without this experience I would not be a world champion today. Of course I would like a rematch with Abraham. He gave me the chance to measure myself against him, and I would love to avenge my defeat, but for now all my focus is on Zeuge and defending my title on Saturday night.”
The fight will air live on SAT.1.
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
